950811

Exorbitant

rise in prices

of essentials

in Multan

RECORDER REPORT

MULTAN: Utility Stores Corporation (USC) did not supply vegetable gee and sugar to its stores in Multan, Dera Ghazi Khan and Bahawalpur divisions just before the Eid-Milad Nabi and consumers had to purcahse sugar and vegetable ghee on higher rates. Prices of essential items increased 10 to 25 percent during last four days. Sugar (100 kgs bag) at Rs, 1740 instead of Rs 1545, now sugar is available in retail market at Rs 17 per kg instead of Rs 15 while government had reportedly asked the importers and local manufacturers to sell it at Rs 11.50

Accordingto survey conducted by this correspondent on Thursday and Friday, every consumer held the government and administration responsible for price hike, adulteration, inhuman treatment of milk and meat sellers. A shop keeper said that wholesalers had increased the prices of "desi rice" from Rs 8 to Rs 10 per kg, sugar from 15 to 17 soap-vermicellies (800 gram pack) from Rs 20 to Rs 22, gram from Rs 40 to 45-48, gram pulses from Rs 24 to Rs 28, wheat flour from Rs 5.50 to Rs 6 per kg, vegetable ghee from Rs 38 to Rs 44, beef from Rs 34 to 40, mutton from Rs 60 to Rs 80, chicken from Rs 60 to Rs 74, rice superior (kernel) from Rs 18 to Rs 19 per kg, milk pack one litre from Rs 19 to 22. Milk from Rs 10 to Rs 12 eggs (desi) from Rs 12 to Rs 18, eggs (farmy) Rs 12 to Rs 16 per dozen.